Gwinnett Tech Graduates on the Path to Pursuing Their Passions

“This graduation is different from any other graduation,” said Tai Le, at 's commencement ceremony held Thursday evening, “because everyone graduating chose to pursue the program that is their passion. Regardless of what parents, the economy or any salary may suggest, we all hold our own fate and create our own path.”

Le, a radiology technology program graduate, was selected to speak on behalf of all of Gwinnett Tech's Class of 2011. She started her address by telling the audience her personal story. She said her parents brought her to this country at the age of nine. Her parents didn’t speak English and the family lived on food stamps, but she said from that meager start to representing an entire class of college graduates has been a journey worth taking.

“The training at Tech is second to none. All of the programs are outstanding,” said Le. “Hiring managers tell us that they prefer to hire Tech graduates, because of our knowledge base and the quality of education that we receive.”

This commencement ceremony marked the at the college. Launched in 2009, this program was established to provide healthcare providers with much need registered nurses. The new RN program replaces the LPN-- licensed practical nurse-- program.  There were 31 members of this charter class. Each of them received an associate degree in nursing.

“We know that employers in this area are about to get a real treat,” said Sharon Bartels, President of Gwinnett Technology College. “Regardless of the program you are in, you are well prepared to meet the needs of employers.”

In the Gwinnett Arena, graduates and an audience of an estimated 5,000, heard keynote speaker Dr. Robert Rohm, president of Personality Insights, Inc., share some comedic antidotes and sage advice about what it will take for them to be successful in careers and in life.

“I’ve learned there are three successful keys to being a good speaker. Stand up and be seen, speak up and be heard and sit down and be appreciated,” said Rohm.

Using the six letters in the word “thanks," Rohm told the Class of 2011 that if they possess the six qualities that he guaranteed they would succeed in all that they do.

The “t”, he said, stands for “teamwork." It is important that everyone get along with each other. Eighty-five percent of success in getting a job, keeping a job and moving ahead in a job, is now directly related to how well a person gets along with other people. As examples, he told how Emmitt Smith, the Dallas Cowboys running back, after winning the MVP award, gave gifts to his offensive line. He said in 1969 Elvis Presley after being told that his three African-American backup singers could not perform in the newly opened Super Dome, that Presley refused to perform without them; there was a change of mind, Presley and his backup singers went on and perform the first concert in the Super Dome. Both Smith and Presley, Rohm said knew that they had to have teamwork to succeed.

He said “h” is for “heart." One must have a passion for what they are doing and that passion must be heartfelt. The letter “a” is for having a positive mental “attitude." Rohm said that a positive attitude won’t make you do anything, but it will help you do everything.       

“When interviewing, tell your potential employer ‘there is something you should know about me; I have a great attitude, I have an awesome attitude. I go after Moby Dick in a row boat and I take the tartar sauce with me’,” said Rohm.

Rohm said that the letter “n” is the most important letter, because it stands for “nuts." He told the graduates that they were going to meet some nuts and that some of them had nuts in their families. He said most people have all of their marbles, but their shooter is missing. He advised the graduates that when they encounter nutty people to just smile and keep moving.

“Knowledge” is represented by the letter “k” in the word thanks. After defending his doctoral thesis and getting his doctoral degree, Rohm said he was proud of everything that he knew because he thought it was a lot. But now he said he is humbled by how much he doesn’t know. Living in the “information age” and with the education that they have received from Tech, Rohm told the graduates that they have a great foundation on which they can build a great life and a great future in a great new world.

He said the final letter “s” stands for “second effort." Rohm told the class that they are going to face challenges in life that will knock them down; these challenges he said are just a part of life. But it is getting up and trying it again that will enable them to prevail.